Nicestash, I appreciate your stating your reasons for favoring automatic over manual deployment. I read and considered what you wrote carefully, but remain unconvinced.

"Manual deployment is not a skill based option, and the vast majority of players would agree with me."

Assertion followed by Appeal to Authority (majority of players) logic fallacy.

"Because of this, manual drop is barred from basically every clan war (I've never seen a clan war where it is allowed) and very few tournament directors incorporate it into their tourneys."

Appeal to Authority (clan war directors and tournament directors) logic fallacy. Just because tournament directors seldom use manual drop does not prove it is a bad idea. I suspect tournament directors at this site are in the throws of "group think" (see Wikipedia article on this topic).

"The reason why manual deployment is so unpopular is because of the high frequency of "noobing"."

Unpopular among whom? Those with artificially inflated ratings? Sources of ratings inflation have been listed previously by me in this thread. I won't belabor my points. I frequently get called a "noob" despite years of playing at CC simply because I don't subscribe to the group think assumptions and mentality of the artificially highly rated. Being called a noob has not lead me to adopt their thinking. Nor have their artificially inflated ratings.

"Noobing is where a player (usually inexperienced) attacks a stack with their own, completely destroying any chance either player had of winning."

One of the many group think assumptions of the artificially highly rated is that it is always wrong to attack a nearby stack. This is insultingly called noobing by those unable to think outside their little boxes. It is often, perhaps even usually, wrong to attack stacks, I agree, but not always, and I can easily imagine a set of circumstances where it could be right.

"With a manual drop, players generally cluster their troops into somewhere between 1-3 regions, so one instance of noobing can be absolutely devastating. While it is possible to leave 3s on each region like in standard deployment, this puts a player at an equally heightened disadvantage-everyone else is more compact, and as they look to take a bonus, they feel no qualms with taking out a 3 because the bonus will yield a much larger bonus."

Finally, we are given an argument based on reason rather than rhetoric (logical fallacy)! I agree with everything you wrote here, but I see it as an argument in favor of skill in manual deployment. Is it better to place 3 troops everywhere? You say no because this leaves one too weak everywhere and one's 3s get knocked out by the players with stacks. So you must place your troops in 1 to 3 drops. But how many? And which is best for which map given various chances factors: 1, 2, or 3? These are key strategic questions that need skill and judgement, perhaps even experience, for determination.

"Some players claim that there is a lot of "skill" in determining the drop, but this can only be argued to apply in 1v1 or team games. With 8 players it's impossible to predict where everyone will start meaning no matter what you do, you can very easily be noobed."

I am one of those players that make this claim for the use of skill in determining the drop. If you make your big drop on a Standard 42-country world map in Australia or South America, probably even in Africa in an 8-player game, you increase your chance of being noobed. Even novices know it is good to go for easy bonus territories. In an American Civil War game, drop your stack in New England, Texas, Maryland, or Virginia, and yes, someone will likely have his stack nearby and you will have a rough time. Put your stack in the Badlands or on the ships, and you have only maybe one person to defeat (or avoid) who thought likewise. You are better positioned to win the game of survival, and yes nuclear is more a game of survival (particularly on small maps) than any other variation. Every map has nuances like this.

Sure, bad luck in finding your stack surrounded by other player's stacks can lead to early defeat. However, it remains my opinion that skill in original placement, and subsequent avoidance vs. confrontation decisions, and how one goes about this (leaving stacks next to others stacks is often insufficient avoidance) more determines the game's outcome than the luck factor of where other players drop stacks.

In sum, while I concede that their is a bad luck factor of being "noobed" out of a game early on, I still believe there are more skill factors involved, and that these factors more than compensate. So far the voting is

If no majority votes on a change, I will leave things as they are. I will extend voting one additional day to provide voters one last chance to get their vote in if they wish to, and close the voting at 0000 GMT Monday morning, which is Sunday evening in most US time zones.

The votes are in and we will be finishing the Competition under manual settings by a 2 to 1 majority, with 1 person wanting a combination. I am sorry to lose nice stash's participation, but you know, this competition is not for the easily frightened. If one is unable to figure out a strategy for dealing with the manual drop setting, perhaps it is best not to participate. I think I have one figured out though. I notice a number of very high rated players are starting to play in more of these games lately, particularly on the Baltic map. They seem to have figured something out.

Since my last post, just six games have concluded for a total of 124. To be rated in the Competition, a fifteen percent participation rate is required, which means you need to have a minimum of 18 games concluded in order to achieve a skill index rating and to know your place in the Competition.

Congratulations to Wolfboy137 who now moves into clear first place. He continues to improve his skill index rating too. Alex is gaining ground on Wolfboy. Is there an upset in the making? My results have been languishing of late. There are a number of Competition games still open. So I think I will hold off opening any new ones for now.

FIRST NATIONS AMERICAS MAP 143 is Under Way Game 12726299: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, boow, DominatED, mejihn7779, Von Kaiser

FIRST NATIONS NORTH AMERICA MAP124 is Under Way Game 12660937: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, rpshawn, bmcubs87, mejihn7779, kazokuhouou 144 is Open Game 12726300: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, shallowhalc ... so far

FIRST NATIONS SOUTH AMERICA MAP131 is Open Game 12698019: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, AlexEverard ... so far

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP125 is Under Way Game 12660944: General Quigley, crazystef, titocakes, Wolfboy137, jessewoodall, repjay, General Greivous, bobheadsuave 145 is Under Way Game 12726305: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, magiclashes, what,me worry?, titocakes, Riverside111

PELOPONNESIAN WAR MAP113 is Under Way Game 12623108: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, tonychristou, Wiskaquito, CJMONSTERNATOR, bpt777, webb4545, pmhedt 133 is Open Game 12698032: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, Zecoe, AlexEverard, gpowell ... so far

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP117 is Under Way Game 12623132: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, Dillybarr, Wiskaquito, wombat4, Sparticus142, Alex5869 137 is Open Game 12698041: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far

AUSTROHUNGARIAN EMPIRE MAP130 is Open Game 12660963: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, DominatED ... so far150 is Under Way Game 12726329: General Quigley, EightFingerEddie, Wolfboy137, crazystef, ranc1dPsych0, BogdanNS, what,me worry?, Machee

I have made two recent settings mistakes, both on Peloponnesian War maps for some odd reason. Game 113 was opened with Sequential instead of Freestyle play order. I don't think the difference between the two is of enough magnitude that I have to invalidate that game and open another. However, it is no doubt going to be one of the last games of the Competition to finish. Eight player sequential games take months to play! I am glad it's not a Hive game. Then, it might even have taken a year! Game 133, a Peloponnesian War map game, was opened with escalating rather than nuclear spoils. I do have to invalidate that ongoing game since this is a Nuclear Competition. I am starting another game 133 with nuclear spoils to take its place.

Since my last post, five more games have concluded for a total of 129. To be rated in the Competition, a fifteen percent participation rate is required, which means a minimum of 19 games concluded is needed in order to achieve a skill index rating and to know your place in the Competition. Only five Nuclear warriors have participated in fifteen percent of the Competition games, which makes it a five person race right now. I am opening eleven new games today and will open the last 40 games of the Competition over the next 27 days. So there are plenty of opportunities to up your participation rate and finish in the money (that being gold, silver, or bronze).

Congratulations to Wolfboy137 who maintains his clear first with incredibly consistent high performance. He continues to incrementally improve his skill index rating too. The gulf between Alex and me continues to widen. Some players may up their participation rates in these last 50-60 games to achieve a total of 30 games played and become rated. Otherwise, I am wondering if we may be looking at a preview of the final standings for the first Nuclear Competition. I plan to offer these Competitions at least once, maybe twice per year. So, we truly are making a permanent historical record here.

PELOPONNESIAN WAR MAP113 is Under Way Game 12623108: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, tonychristou, Wiskaquito, CJMONSTERNATOR, bpt777, webb4545, pmhedt 133 is Open Game 12775496: General Quigley ... so far153 is Open Game 12775511: General Quigley ... so far

CLASSIC CITIES: LONDON MAP146 is Under Way Game 12726315: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, what,me worry?, AlexEverard, kennuy07, trboye, Machee

NORTH AMERICA MAP134 is Under Way Game 12698035: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, Elsuper bano, what,me worry?, amirzinaty, Riverside111, QUAYS 154 is Open Game 12775516: General Quigley ... so far

8 THOUGHTS MAP135 is Open Game 12698037: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, AlexEverard ... so far155 is Open Game 12775522: General Quigley ... so far

CIRCUS MAXIMUS MAP136 is Open Game 12698040: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far156 is Open Game 12775527: General Quigley ... so far

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP117 is Concluded Game 12623132: crazystef - gold, Wolfboy137 - silver, wombat4 - bronze 137 is Open Game 12698041: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far157 is Open Game 12775533: General Quigley ... so far

WWII EUROPE MAP138 is Under Way Game 12698043: General Quigley, sblast1919, crazystef, what,me worry?, AlexEverard, LeFrench, QUAYS 3, BisdeCapri 158 is Open Game 12775535: General Quigley ... so far

BERLIN 1961 MAP139 is Open Game 12698048: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, what,me worry?, AlexEverard ... so far159 is Open Game 12775542: General Quigley ... so far

TRENCH WARFARE MAP140 is Open Game 12698053: General Quigley, sblast1919, crazystef, what,me worry? ... so far160 is Open Game 12775547: General Quigley ... so far

AUSTROHUNGARIAN EMPIRE MAP130 is Open Game 12660963: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, DominatED ... so far150 is Under Way Game 12726329: General Quigley, EightFingerEddie, Wolfboy137, crazystef, ranc1dPsych0, BogdanNS, what,me worry?, Machee

Since my last post, thirteen games have concluded for a total of 142. A fifteen percent participation rate is needed in order to achieve a skill index rating and to know your place in the Competition, which means a minimum of 21 games. Only five Nuclear warriors have participated in fifteen percent of the Competition games, which makes it a five person race right now. Wolfboy137 has run into some trouble in many of his games recently, but Alex continues to play really well. This has made it a two-way race near the finish. I may be looming on the outside looking for a break.

I am opening twenty new games today and will open the last 20 games of the Competition before the first day of Summer. So there are plenty of opportunities (more than 40 since a few are still open from last time) to up your participation rate and place in the first Nuclear Competition.

IBERIA MAP141 is Concluded Game 12726288: Riverside111 - gold, mike stevens69 - silver, General Quigley - bronze161 is Open Game 12849310: General Quigley ... so far

JAPAN MAP142 is Concluded Game 12726295: DuZ - gold, General Quigley - silver, crazystef - bronze162 is Open Game 12849313: General Quigley ... so far

FIRST NATIONS NORTH AMERICA MAP144 is Concluded Game 12726300: QUAYS - gold, sfl - silver, crazystef - bronze164 is Open Game 12849320: General Quigley ... so far

FIRST NATIONS SOUTH AMERICA MAP131 is Concluded Game 12698019: mejihn7779 - gold, General Quigley - silver, privite frakel - bronze151 is Under Way Game 12775481: General Quigley, Old Pueblo Gambl, crazystef, beire1990, DominatED, hrake, rotoryturbo, QUAYS 165 is Open Game 12849327: General Quigley ... so far

HIVE MAP132 is Concluded Game 12698023: General Quigley -gold, VIKTORY - silver, sblast1919 - bronze 152 is Under Way Game 12775487: General Quigley, cavscorpion, ML46, AlexEverard, kahunah, danc050, Machee, torres44cm 166 is Open Game 12849330: General Quigley ... so far

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP145 is Under Way Game 12726305: General Quigley - gold, what,me worry? - silver, titocakes - bronze 167 is Open Game 12849334: General Quigley ... so far

PELOPONNESIAN WAR MAP113 is Under Way Game 12623108: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, tonychristou, Wiskaquito, CJMONSTERNATOR, bpt777, webb4545, pmhedt 133 is Open Game 12775496: General Quigley, AlexEverard, DominatED, Wolfboy137, gpowell, crazystef ... so far153 is Under Way Game 12775511: General Quigley, crazystef, AlexEverard, mjackowitz, Wolfboy137, Zecoe, Cornal Clink, ernistas 168 is Open Game 12849416: General Quigley ... so far

CLASSIC CITIES: LONDON MAP146 is Concluded Game 12726315: Machee - gold, what,me worry? - silver, General Quigley - bronze169 is Open Game 12849419: General Quigley ... so far

NORTH AMERICA MAP134 is Concluded Game 12698035: Wolfboy137 - gold, General Quigley - silver, amirzinaty - bronze154 is Under Way Game 12775516: General Quigley, crazystef, Cornal Clink, Elsuper bano, AlexEverard, Wolfboy137, mike stevens69, The Owl170 is Open Game 12849420: General Quigley ... so far

8 THOUGHTS MAP135 is Open Game 12698037: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, AlexEverard, General Greivous ... so far155 is Open Game 12775522: General Quigley, crazystef, AlexEverard, Wolfboy137 ... so far171 is Open Game 12849421: General Quigley ... so far

DOODLE EARTH MAP147 is Concluded Game 12726317: DominatED - gold, General Quigley - silver, AlexEverard - bronze172 is Open Game 12849426: General Quigley ... so far

CIRCUS MAXIMUS MAP136 is Open Game 12698040: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far156 is Open Game 12775527: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far173 is Open Game 12849349: General Quigley ... so far

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP137 is Open Game 12698041: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far157 is Open Game 12775533: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far174 is Open Game 12849429: General Quigley ... so far

WWII EUROPE MAP138 is Concluded Game 12698043: LeFrench - gold, AlexEverard - silver, sblast1919 - bronze158 is Under Way Game 12775535: General Quigley, toshx54, AlexEverard, czech59, Wolfboy137, tanios, wombat4, QUAYS 175 is Open Game 12849353: General Quigley ... so far

BERLIN 1961 MAP139 is Under Way Game 12698048: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, what,me worry?, AlexEverard, wombat4, knycknac, Darksteel 159 is Under Way Game 12775542: General Quigley, crazystef, AlexEverard, geobarto, Wolfboy137, matbat, LeChuck, tigger123456789 178 is Open Game 12849363: General Quigley ... so far

TRENCH WARFARE MAP140 is Open Game 12698053: General Quigley, crazystef, what,me worry?, wombat, SkyMonkey6 ... so far160 is Open Game 12775547: General Quigley, chadrea, crazystef ... so far179 is Open Game 12849367: General Quigley ... so far

Nyaaaargh! So close! But I have an overhang of defeats in games not yet finished which I fear will drag me backwards (partly because I tend to join more games than I can give my full concentration to). Now, if I just join a heap more games, maybe I'll do well enough to counteract the ones I lost 'cause I was playing too many ...

We are at last approaching the end of the First Nuclear Competition. Wolfboy has been playing really well, three golds on the first three maps, to maintain a solid hold on first. Alex has slipped just a fraction. Averages above 1.0 are so hard to maintain. I have improved my standing a bit. I am pretty tough on the Berlin 1961 and the Peloponnesian War maps where victories brought me in some points.

Since my last post, sixteen games have concluded for a total of 158. A fifteen percent participation rate is needed in order to achieve a skill index rating and to know your place in the Competition, which means a minimum of 23 Competition games concluded. Only five Nuclear warriors so far have had the stamina and dedication to participate in fifteen percent of the Competition games.

Game 172 was a strange one. It was a Doodle Earth map and there were two players left, Alex and Wolfboy. Poor Wolfie got so nervous at the prospect of facing Alex alone that he nuked himself. By doing this, Wolfboy actually eliminated himself from the game allowing Alex to win while literally asleep. That's what I call intimidation!

I am opening the last 20 games of the Competition today and there are 14 still open. If someone new signs up for 30 of the 34 games, they can still just meet the 15% minimum needed to rate in this Competition. So tell your friends about it!

TEAM GAMES ANNOUNCEMENT

For some of the people who have participated most, I am creating some team games and plan to invite you to be on a team together. My theory is that we have learned a lot about how to play Nuclear spoils on these maps over the last 5 months. so I think we would make a formidable team. But mainly, I think it would be really fun to play with you for a change instead of against you! There are five key participants in this First Nuclear Competition, and I'd like to bring in one medium participant per team game invite, so please don't expect to be invited to all the team games, but for the key five (you're in the index above) I promise you'll be invited to at least 50% of all team games unless you express a wish not to be.

IBERIA MAP161 is Concluded Game 12849310: Wolfboy137 -gold, General Quigley - silver, crazystef - bronze181 is Open Game 12935793: General Quigley ... so far

JAPAN MAP162 is Concluded Game 12849313: Wolfboy137 -gold, crazystef - silver, brentros - bronze182 is Open Game 12935799: General Quigley ... so far

FIRST NATIONS NORTH AMERICA MAP164 is Under Way Game 12849320: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, DominatED, rcoss, mrgrateful, rockfist 184 is Open Game 12935817: General Quigley ... so far

FIRST NATIONS SOUTH AMERICA MAP151 is Concluded Game 12775481: beire1990 - gold, DominatED - silver, General Quigley - bronze 165 is Open Game 12849327: General Quigley,Wolfboy137, crazystef, biggaz34, mikey4 ... so far 185 is Open Game 12935828: General Quigley ... so far

HIVE MAP152 is Under Way Game 12775487: General Quigley, cavscorpion, ML46, AlexEverard, kahunah, danc050, Machee, torres44cm 166 is Open Game 12849330: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, AlexEverard, cavscorpion, Obiwayne99, wreckermom, 1234qwer ... so far186 is Open Game 12935853: General Quigley ... so far

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP145 is Concluded Game 12726305: General Quigley - gold, what,me worry? - silver, titocakes - bronze 167 is Concluded Game 12849334: repjay - gold, General Quigley - silver, rellis - bronze187 is Open Game 12935841: General Quigley ... so far

CLASSIC CITIES: LONDON MAP169 is Under Way Game 12849419: General Quigley, aboynamedboobs, crazystef, AlexEverard, Elsuper bano, marvis, FiesesKies, Cornal Clink 189 is Open Game 12935857: General Quigley ... so far

NORTH AMERICA MAP154 is Concluded Game 12775516: AlexEverard - gold, General Quigley - silver, crazystef - bronze 170 is Under Way Game 12849420: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, rcoss, Cornal Clink, Kisti, clowntriste 190 is Open Game 12935861: General Quigley ... so far

8 THOUGHTS MAP135 is Concluded Game 12698037: tnecniv3 - gold, General Bax - silver, AlexEverard - bronze155 is Open Game 12775522: General Quigley, crazystef, AlexEverard, Wolfboy137 ... so far171 is Open Game 12849421: General Quigley, pepol, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard ... so far191 is Open Game 12935868: General Quigley ... so far

CIRCUS MAXIMUS MAP136 is Under Way Game 12698040: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, tnecniv3, Zecoe, Filthy Phil, rvgd, AshB156 is Open Game 12775527: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, General Greivous ... so far173 is Open Game 12849349: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, mikey4 ... so far193 is Open Game 12935882: General Quigley ... so far

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP137 is Open Game 12698041: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, Bilbo1_OC ... so far157 is Open Game 12775533: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far174 is Open Game 12849429: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef ... so far194 is Open Game 12935884: General Quigley ... so far

BERLIN 1961 MAP139 is Concluded Game 12698048: Wolfboy137 - gold, General Quigley - silver, crazystef - bronze 159 is Concluded Game 12775542: General Quigley - gold, geobarto - silver, matbat - bronze178 is Open Game 12849363: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard ... so far198 is Open Game 12935902: General Quigley ... so far

TRENCH WARFARE MAP140 is Open Game 12698053: General Quigley, crazystef, what,me worry?, wombat, tommygun64 ... so far160 is Open Game 12775547: General Quigley, chadrea, crazystef, Wolfboy137, tommygun64 ... so far179 is Open Game 12849367: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard ... so far199 is Open Game 12935906: General Quigley ... so far

AUSTROHUNGARIAN EMPIRE MAP180 is Open Game 12849371: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, 11Joan11, crazystef, mrgrateful, shmorg ... so far200 is Open Game 12935912: General Quigley ... so far

Congrats gentlemen, the winner of this tourney will likely be one of the top 5 players who have competed in this competition!

General-if you truly need proof that manual drop requires less skill than automatic drop look no further than the rankings-it's no coincidence that the vast majority of the top players' win percentage has gone down.

8 THOUGHTS MAP155 is Under Way Game 12775522: General Quigley, crazystef, AlexEverard, Wolfboy137, d1v1jak, EsLeFaith, Ghost0204, genevieve roi 171 is Open Game 12849421: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, AlexEverard, General Greivous ... so far191 is Open Game 12935868: General Quigley, AlexEverard, Wolfboy137, crazystef, RISEME, Ghost0204 ... so far

CIRCUS MAXIMUS MAP136 is Concluded Game 12698040: Wolfboy137 - gold, crazystef - silver, tnecniv3 - bronze 156 is Under Way Game 12775527: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, General Greivous, DominatED, Schredder22, waltero, freethinker 173 is Open Game 12849349: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef ... so far193 is Open Game 12935882: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, DominatED ... so far

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP137 is Under Way Game 12698041: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137, IKE KOD, Schredder22, thehunstman, Sir_Scavenger, Alsacien71 157 is Open Game 12775533: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far174 is Open Game 12849429: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef ... so far194 is Open Game 12935884: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, DominatED 4.7 ... so far

WWII EUROPE MAP195 is Open Game 12935887: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, DominatED, Redlad, biosistemas1 ... so far

Congratulations to Alex on maintaining his lock on first place. We are approaching the end of the First Nuclear Competition. Eleven games are still in play. Five games have yet to start; they are on the least two popular maps (Trench Warfare and Halloween Hollows). I think the fun to be had on these maps is under rated.

We continue our winning ways in team games. I can only remember losing maybe 2 or 3 of these in about 15 games. Thank you guys for being so willing to participate.

HALLOWEEN HOLLOWS MAP137 is Concluded Game 12698041: General Quigley - gold, thehunstman - silver, Wolfboy137 - bronze 157 is Open Game 12775533: General Quigley, crazystef, Wolfboy137 ... so far174 is Open Game 12849429: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef ... so far194 is Open Game 12935884: General Quigley, Wolfboy137, crazystef, DominatED ... so far

Alex's index rating actually went up by more than 3/10 of a point. Stef's and my index stayed pretty much constant. DominatED's took quite a hit with the manual deployment. Wolfboy played the majority of the Competition games under manual deployment rules because he joined us late. So it isn't really possible to say whether or not automatic deployment is better or worse for him.

One big difference I did note between automatic and manual deployments is that automatic deployment rules are much more popular. Games took much longer to fill with the manual deployment setting and fewer high rated players seemed interested in joining. I believe group think is the main cause. On the strategy forum posts and at the schools that teach strategy, automatic deployments are assumed. Therefore, those who are taught how to play CC, and those who read the forum posts all have reached some consensus on how best to play with automatic deployments. For those who think for themselves, and for those who like to develop winning strategies independently, the deployment setting really doesn't matter because winning strategies are devisable under either setting for us.

Having played a large number of games under both deployments, my experience is that the strategies one needs to employ for each way of playing are different, but that one type of strategy is no less deep than the other, just different, very different in fact in two important respects. If you can figure out strategies for winning with automatic deployment, then you can figure out good strategies for winning with manual deployment too. I think you deprived yourself of a good opportunity to develop those strategies by petulantly withdrawing your participation because you did not get your way. But that is your loss. It was fun playing with you in the first half of the Competition.

There has been one very significant benefit I have noted. Since this Competition came to an end and I have begun playing more games with a wider field my rating has gone up. Participating in this tough Competition as much as I did for the last seven months may have kept my rating down a bit artificially. I learned a lot about strategy under conditions of manual as well as automatic deployment. I am really seeing the benefits when I play against a more general population.

Well put GQ! As you know I don't put too much weight on ranking. Through this competition I have been as high as a sergeant and as low as a cook. Manual deployment engages people to think faster in the beginning especially when you drop your big stack next to an opponents big stack. Thank you GQ for this tourney being new to CC I have learned so much.-stef